Retractable hull mounting data collecting system

Abstract

A watercraft mounting system that embodies a moving mounting platform and a protective hull cavity which provides protection, prevents damage and improves storage of data collection systems.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A watercraft comprising:
 a hull; 
 a cavity along a bottom portion of the hull; 
 a mounting platform configured to carry a data collection system; 
 one or more support members suspending the mounting platform within the cavity, wherein the one or more support members are configured to allow at least a portion of the mounting platform and the data collection system to retract into the cavity in response to an external force on the portion of the data collection system; and 
 a retraction device connected to the mounting platform, the retraction device being manually operable to retract the mounting platform into the cavity, wherein the retraction device comprises a pull handle manually operable to pull a cord to retract the mounting platform into the cavity. 
 
     
     
       2. The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more support members comprise a plurality of support members. 
     
     
       3. The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more support members are one or more tension members. 
     
     
       4. The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more support members are configured to apply a force on the mounting platform to move the mounting platform away from a top portion of the hull. 
     
     
       5. The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more support members are configured to extend in response to the external force on the portion of the data collection system. 
     
     
       6. The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more support members comprise:
 a first support member connected to a front portion of the mounting platform; and 
 a second support member connected to a rear portion of the mounting platform. 
 
     
     
       7. The watercraft of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more support members comprise:
 a third support member connected to the front portion of the mounting platform; and 
 a fourth support member connected to the rear portion of the mounting platform. 
 
     
     
       8. The watercraft of  claim 6 , wherein the first support member is configured to extend in response to the external force being on a front portion of the data collection system. 
     
     
       9. The watercraft of  claim 8 , wherein the mounting platform is configured to tilt in response to the external force being on the front portion of the data collection system. 
     
     
       10. The watercraft of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the external force is a first external force; and 
 the second support member is configured to extend in response to a second external force being on a rear portion of the data collection system. 
 
     
     
       11. The watercraft of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rim fixed to the hull along a perimeter of the cavity, wherein the one or more support members extend between the rim and the mounting platform. 
 
     
     
       12. The watercraft of  claim 1 , further comprising the data collection system, wherein the data collection system comprises at least one of a down-scan transducer, a side-scan transducer, or a camera. 
     
     
       13. The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity extends through an entire height of the hull. 
     
     
       14. A mounting assembly for a watercraft, the mounting assembly comprising:
 a mounting platform configured to carry a data collection system; 
 one or more support members attached to the mounting platform, the one or more support members configured to suspend the mounting platform within a cavity of the watercraft, wherein the one or more support members are configured to allow at least a portion of the mounting platform and the data collection system to retract into the cavity of the watercraft in response to an external force on the portion of the data collection system; and 
 a retraction device connected to the mounting platform, the retraction device being manually operable to retract the mounting platform into the cavity, wherein the retraction device comprises a pull handle manually operable to pull a cord to retract the mounting platform into the cavity. 
 
     
     
       15. The mounting assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more support members comprise:
 a first support member connected to a first corner portion of the mounting platform; 
 a second support member connected to a second corner portion of the mounting platform; 
 a third support member connected to a third corner portion of the mounting platform; and 
 a fourth support member connected to a fourth corner portion of the mounting platform. 
 
     
     
       16. The mounting assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more support members are configured to be stressed when the mounting platform is in a deployed position in which the data collection system projects downwardly from the cavity. 
     
     
       17. The mounting assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more support members are configured to be further stressed in response to the external force on the portion of the data collection system. 
     
     
       18. The mounting assembly of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the one or more support members comprise a front support member attached to a front portion of the mounting platform and a rear support member attached to a rear portion of the mounting platform; and 
 the retraction device connected is to the mounting platform at a location between the front support member and the rear support member.